Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I have no plans to provide stand-alone status to the educational institution referred to by the Deputy.

By way of background, the institution is operated as a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre by the VEC. Its recognition as a stand-alone PLC centre would require additional financial and staffing resources in terms of teacher allocations and management structure, including Principal, Deputy Principal and posts of responsibility. In the context of the current budgetary situation, the moratorium on public sector recruitment and the Employment Control Framework it would be very difficult to provide these additional resources.

In addition, generally in order to qualify for consideration for stand alone status, an approved allocation of at least 500 approved PLC places is required. County Cork VEC has been allocated a total 1,334 approved PLC places for the 2010/2011 academic year and further distribution of those places to PLC centres under its remit is a matter for the VEC. Information from the 'October Returns' indicates that total 2010/2011 PLC enrolment in County Cork VEC is 1,611 and total PLC enrolment in the centre referred to is 502 learners.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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This issue is currently the subject of correspondence between the acting CEO of County Cork Vocational Education Committee (VEC), which is responsible for the educational institution referred to by the Deputy, and my Department.

By way of background, the institution is operated as a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre by the VEC. Its recognition as a stand-alone PLC centre would require additional financial and staffing resources in terms of teacher allocations and management structure, including Principal, Deputy Principal and posts of responsibility. In the context of the current budgetary situation, the moratorium on public sector recruitment and the Employment Control Framework it would be very difficult to provide these additional resources.

In addition, generally in order to qualify for consideration for stand alone status, an approved allocation of at least 500 approved PLC places is required. County Cork VEC has been allocated a total 1,334 approved PLC places for the 2010/2011 academic year and further distribution of those places to PLC centres under its remit is a matter for the VEC. Information from the 2010/2011 'October Returns' indicates that total PLC enrolment in County Cork VEC is 1,611 and total PLC enrolment in the centre referred to is 277 learners.